Reaper of the Cards [1st Edition] #LOB-071

Reaper of the Cards [1st Edition] #LOB-071 collector guide

About Reaper of the Cards

Reaper of the Cards is a Flip Effect Monster, whose effect happens when it is flipped face-up, printed as LOB-071 in Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon (2002) as a Rare. It is a Level 5 DARK Fiend monster with 1,380 ATK and 1,930 DEF. At its Level it needs one Tribute to Normal Summon. Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon was the first booster set of the English Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game. It brought Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Dark Magician, Red-Eyes Black Dragon and the five pieces of Exodia to English-speaking players, so almost every card in it is a piece of the game's history. Ungraded, this printing ranks 56th of the 454 Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon cards we track. The top card is Blue-Eyes White Dragon at €968.32.

Character and collecting appeal

Fiends are one of the largest Types in the game, home to many of its darker and more unusual designs. In play, it is a card for destroying cards.

Version and identification

This guide covers the 1st Edition printing. The words "1st Edition" are printed below the artwork on the left; copies without them are the Unlimited printing and usually sell for less. Check the code printed below the artwork on the right: it should read LOB-071. The code LOB-071, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as LOB-E071, and are priced separately. It is the Rare version. Rares have a silver-foil name and plain artwork. Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon has 3 other printings of Reaper of the Cards: LOB-071 (€1.58), LOB-E057 (€3.63) and LOB-E057 1st Edition (€6.07). Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €20.55, a PSA 9 for €55.26 and a PSA 10 for €243.33. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 54%, and up 17% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €27.11 in February 2023, 24% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 55% over the same 12 months. Of the 4 printings of Reaper of the Cards we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon LOB-071 at €1.58. 1st Edition copies sell for about 13× the Unlimited printing (€20.55 against €1.58).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 11.8× the ungraded price and 4.4× a PSA 9. That gap is big enough that grading a sharp, well-centred copy can pay for itself. On cards from the early 2000s, the dark brown backs show every scuff and white edge, so top grades are scarce.

Investment potential

In its favour: steady demand, with ungraded prices up 54% in a year; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (80 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Treat this as background, not a prediction or financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €20.55 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €55.26. Ask the seller to show the code LOB-071, the "1st Edition" text and the Rare finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. Cards from 2002 often show white wear on the back edges and corners, so ask for photos of the back before you buy.

Card details and image from YGOPRODeck. Yu-Gi-Oh! is a trademark of Konami; Search Cards is not affiliated with Konami.